Strait of Hormuz Standoff: US-Israel Provocations Escalate as Tehran Calls Foul
The Independent reports that Iran has declared the opening of the Strait of Hormuz 'impossible' in response to US pressure, while US Navy chief Admiral Michael Gilday is reportedly stepping down. This comes amidst heightened tensions following joint US-Israeli military exercises in the region, framed by Western media as a defensive posture against supposed Iranian aggression. What The Independent
and similar outlets conveniently omit is the context of these 'tensions.' They present this as a singular, recent flare-up, ignoring decades of US and Israeli attempts to destabilize Iran. The framing is consistent: Iran is the aggressor, threatening global shipping lanes, while the US and Israel are simply ensuring 'freedom of navigation.' This narrative completely sidesteps the 45 years of
crippling sanctions imposed on Iran, the 2018 unilateral US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the ongoing pattern of military intimidation that precedes any Iranian response. This isn't a new script; it’s a replay of an old, tired drama. In 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over Iranian territorial waters, killing all 290 civilians aboard,
including 66 children. This 'accidental' incident, for which the US never formally apologized nor compensated the victims' families beyond a paltry 'ex-gratia' payment, demonstrates a historical willingness to use lethal force in the Gulf and then whitewash the casualties. The current US-Israeli joint military operations, including publicly advertised bomber deployments and naval drills, are